How to Buy a Good Sports Bra

When you are an active woman, sometimes a regular bra just does not to the job. This is when a sports bra is needed. Sports bras reduce bounce in the chest area and helps to keep your breast from sagging more than a regular bra does when exercising. There are many different brands, material types and styles to choose from and when you know what to look for, you can find and buy a good sports bra.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Decide which style you want, either compression or encapsulation. The compression style compresses the breast against the body, which minimizes movement. The encapsulation style has cups and give a slight feminine shape, and may include underwire or straps.

2. Find a sports bra that fits your body. It is very important, just like for a regular bra, to wear a bra that fits your breast and body perfectly. If it does not, there is an increased chance of not only your breast sagging but your back hurting also, especially if you have a larger size bust. Wearing a bra that does not fit well enough can also cause headaches and muscle tension.

3. Look for a sports bra that is made with CoolMax, which is breathable and absorbs sweat and reduces odor.

4. Check the seams. Turn the sports bra inside out and see how flat the elastic is. If the elastic is more round, it might be abrasive against your skin.

5. Look for sports bras made with soft thread, which makes them more comfortable, and soft tags--or even tagless ones. Tags can sometimes chafe and make you feel miserable.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind which activities you will be doing when buying a sports bra. There are different styles and brands of sports bra for different activities. Those who run need a different type of support than those who cycle.
• When washing your bra, hand wash and hang it to dry, or lay it on a dry towel. This helps the bra retain its shape longer. Don’t put it in a dryer because the hot air can cause the elastic to loosen.
• It's not only women who are very active who could benefit from wearing a sports bra.
• Some women have such sensitive skin that they will chafe no matter what kind of material a sports bra is made of. Putting some lubricating jelly on your skin under the sports bra will help to keep chafing away.
• Be sure to get a bra that is the right size and not what you wish it was. If it's too small, it will make you uncomfortable and not give support as it needs to. If you buy one too large, you have no support.